
Fluoride has made the news (again) recently, for potentially being linked to autism in children to being under fire in U.S. Federal Court because of dental fluorosis.
An ongoing concern is the safety of water fluoridation, with some cities actively fighting fluoridation of their drinking water, such as Portland, OR.
But this got me thinking about the toothpaste we use, which might also contain fluoride—as well as other ingredients we should consider avoiding. After all, one of the fastest ways to absorb something into the body is through the mouth. Also, when dangerous ingredients make their way down the drain, they can wreak havoc on the ecosystem and harm wildlife.
There seems to be a general consensus among health advocates—from Environmental Working Group to Dr. Oz—about avoiding triclosan in toothpaste. Triclosan, a possible endocrine disruptor, is an antibacterial agent found in many personal care products and its safety is currently under review by the FDA. No need to worry about losing this particular antibacterial, as brushing and flossing twice a day will remove bacteria.
What else in your toothpaste should raise a red flag?
The Eco-Dentistry Association emphasizes the important step we should all be taking: Read your labels! Here’s their list of some of the common ingredients found in toothpastes (and other oral care products like mouthwash and lip balms) you should consider avoiding, beyond triclosan:
FD&C color pigments—Synthetic coloring agent made from coal tar that can be found in a multitude of personal care products. Known carcinogen.
Propylene glycol—The EPA considers this ingredient so toxic that for handling, it requires gloves, protective clothing, goggles and disposal by burying.
Parabens—May play a role in sterility in males, hormone imbalances and breast cancer.
Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate—Has been implicated in oral conditions, including canker sores and bad breath. It’s the stuff that makes some toothpaste foamy.
Polyethylene glycol—Linked to production of dangerous levels of dioxin, a cancer-causing agent also known to reduce immunity and cause nervous system disorders.
Cleure adds the following ingredients: saccharin, antimicrobials, chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide and salicylates. Also of concern are titanium dioxide and glycerin, which might inhibit remineralization of teeth.
So what then are some alternatives? What should we look for on toothpaste labels? The Eco-Dentistry Association suggests such things as organic aloe vera, which helps clean teeth and gums while soothing your entire mouth, or organic essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus and anise, which are tasty and known for anti-bacterial and breath-freshening properties.
The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia offers a guide to less toxic products, including toothpaste. The guide includes a list of the “best” toothpastes (that contain no sodium fluoride, artificial sweeteners, dyes, detergents or triclosan) and “good” toothpastes ((fluoride free but may contain one or two common hazardous ingredients). The association also offers this tip: The main way to remove plaque is flossing, not brushing. Brushing with plain water is sufficient as long as you floss.
Want to take it a step further and make your own toothpaste? The most basic material to use is plain baking soda or salt, which are mild abrasives. The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia advises: Brush with two parts baking soda and one part salt mixed to a fine powder in a blender.
Another common ingredient you might find in homemade toothpaste is coconut oil. Why? Because, as Health Extremist points out, coconut oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal, and it has been shown to destroy the bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
With baking soda and/or coconut oil as main ingredients, here are five toothpaste recipes you can make at home and store in a small container:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons baking soda
10 drops of peppermint oil (optional)
Instructions:
Mix baking soda and coconut oil in a small container, until it forms a paste-like consistency
Add several drops of peppermint oil and mix.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
10 drops peppermint, clove or citrus pure essential oil
A few drops of water
Instructions:
Mix all powdered ingredients well in a bowl. If you are starting with tablets, powder them in a food processor. If you are starting with capsules, dump them out into the bowl.
Add oil one part at a time until you get desired consistency.
Add any optional ingredients, including essential oils for flavor.
Ingredients:
6 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
2 tablespoons coconut oil (must be liquid)
10 drops peppermint, clove or citrus pure essential oil
Instructions:
Mix all powdered ingredients well in a bowl. If you are starting with tablets, powder them in a food processor. If you are starting with capsules, dump them out into the bowl.
Add oil one part at a time until you get desired consistency.
Add any optional ingredients, including essential oils for flavor.
Ingredients:
5 parts calcium magnesium powder
2 parts baking soda
3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture
Optional ingredients: essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon and orange are all good), grapefruit seed extract, myrrh and trace minerals
3 parts xylitol powder—this ingredient is not completely necessary, but just keeps it from tasting bitter
Instructions:
Mix all powdered ingredients well in a bowl. If you are starting with tablets, powder them in a food processor. If you are starting with capsules, dump them out into the bowl.
Add oil one part at a time until you get desired consistency.
Add any optional ingredients, including essential oils for flavor.
Ingredients
Non-hydrogenized virgin coconut oil
Baking soda or fine pumice
Xylitol (a sweetener that is also proven to have antibacterial properties)
Your favorite essential oil
Instructions
Heat half a cup of the coconut oil over gentle heat.
Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the baking soda or 1 tablespoon of the pumice as well as a 15 to 20 drops of the essential oil and the xylitol to taste.
Do you have a toothpaste recipe you swear by?
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In a wildfire, hurricane, or other disaster, people with pets should heed the Humane Society's advice: If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your animals either.
1. Stay Informed
<p>A first order of business in pet evacuation planning is to understand and be ready for the possible threats in your area. Visit <a href="https://www.ready.gov/be-informed" target="_blank">Ready.gov</a> to learn more about preparing for potential disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Then pay attention to related updates by tuning <a href="http://www.weather.gov/nwr/" target="_blank">NOAA Weather Radio</a> to your local emergency station or using the <a href="https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app" target="_blank">FEMA app</a> to get National Weather Service alerts.</p>2. Ensure Your Pet is Easily Identifiable
<p><span>Household pets, including indoor cats, should wear collars with ID tags that have your mobile phone number. </span><a href="https://www.avma.org/microchipping-animals-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Microchipping</a><span> your pets will also improve your chances of reunion should you become separated. Be sure to add an emergency contact for friends or relatives outside your immediate area.</span></p><p>Additionally, use <a href="https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'animals inside' door/window stickers</a> to show rescue workers how many pets live there. (If you evacuate with your pets, quickly write "Evacuated" on the sticker so first responders don't waste time searching for them.)</p>3. Make a Pet Evacuation Plan
<p> "No family disaster plan is complete without including your pets and all of your animals," says veterinarian Heather Case in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9NRJkFKAm4" target="_blank">a video</a> produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association.</p><p>It's important to determine where to take your pet in the event of an emergency.</p><p>Red Cross shelters and many other emergency shelters allow only service animals. Ask your vet, local animal shelters, and emergency management officials for information on local and regional animal sheltering options.</p><p>For those with access to the rare shelter that allows pets, CDC offers <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/emergencies/pets-in-evacuation-centers.html" target="_blank">tips on what to expect</a> there, including potential health risks and hygiene best practices.</p><p>Beyond that, talk with family or friends outside the evacuation area about potentially hosting you and/or your pet if you're comfortable doing so. Search for pet-friendly hotel or boarding options along key evacuation routes.</p><p>If you have exotic pets or a mix of large and small animals, you may need to identify multiple locations to shelter them.</p><p>For other household pets like hamsters, snakes, and fish, the SPCA recommends that if they normally live in a cage, they should be transported in that cage. If the enclosure is too big to transport, however, transfer them to a smaller container temporarily. (More on that <a href="https://www.spcai.org/take-action/emergency-preparedness/evacuation-how-to-be-pet-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.)</p><p>For any pet, a key step is to establish who in your household will be the point person for gathering up pets and bringing their supplies. Keep in mind that you may not be home when disaster strikes, so come up with a Plan B. For example, you might form a buddy system with neighbors with pets, or coordinate with a trusted pet sitter.</p>4. Prepare a Pet Evacuation Kit
<p>Like the emergency preparedness kit you'd prepare for humans, assemble basic survival items for your pets in a sturdy, easy-to-grab container. Items should include:</p><ul><li>Water, food, and medicine to last a week or two;</li><li>Water, food bowls, and a can opener if packing wet food;</li><li>Litter supplies for cats (a shoebox lined with a plastic bag and litter may work);</li><li>Leashes, harnesses, or vehicle restraints if applicable;</li><li>A <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/pet-first-aid-supplies-checklist" target="_blank">pet first aid kit</a>;</li><li>A sturdy carrier or crate for each cat or dog. In addition to easing transport, these may serve as your pet's most familiar or safe space in an unfamiliar environment;</li><li>A favorite toy and/or blanket;</li><li>If your pet is prone to anxiety or stress, the American Kennel Club suggests adding <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stress-relieving items</a> like an anxiety vest or calming sprays.</li></ul><p>In the not-unlikely event that you and your pet have to shelter in different places, your kit should also include:</p><ul><li>Detailed information including contact information for you, your vet, and other emergency contacts;</li><li>A list with phone numbers and addresses of potential destinations, including pet-friendly hotels and emergency boarding facilities near your planned evacuation routes, plus friends or relatives in other areas who might be willing to host you or your pet;</li><li>Medical information including vaccine records and a current rabies vaccination tag;</li><li>Feeding notes including portions and sizes in case you need to leave your pet in someone else's care;</li><li>A photo of you and your pet for identification purposes.</li></ul>5. Be Ready to Evacuate at Any Time
<p>It's always wise to be prepared, but stay especially vigilant in high-risk periods during fire or hurricane season. Practice evacuating at different times of day. Make sure your grab-and-go kit is up to date and in a convenient location, and keep leashes and carriers by the exit door. You might even stow a thick pillowcase under your bed for middle-of-the-night, dash-out emergencies when you don't have time to coax an anxious pet into a carrier. If forecasters warn of potential wildfire, a hurricane, or other dangerous conditions, bring outdoor pets inside so you can keep a close eye on them.</p><p>As with any emergency, the key is to be prepared. As the American Kennel Club points out, "If you panic, it will agitate your dog. Therefore, <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pet disaster preparedness</a> will not only reduce your anxiety but will help reduce your pet's anxiety too."</p>Evacuating Horses and Other Farm Animals
<p>The same basic principles apply for evacuating horses and most other livestock. Provide each with some form of identification. Ensure that adequate food, water, and medicine are available. And develop a clear plan on where to go and how to get there.</p><p>Sheltering and transporting farm animals requires careful coordination, from identifying potential shelter space at fairgrounds, racetracks, or pastures, to ensuring enough space is available in vehicles and trailers – not to mention handlers and drivers on hand to support the effort.</p><p>For most farm animals, the Red Cross advises that you consider precautionary evacuation when a threat seems imminent but evacuation orders haven't yet been announced. The American Veterinary Medical Association has <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/large-animals-and-livestock-disasters" target="_blank">more information</a>.</p>Bottom Line: If You Need to Evacuate, So Do Your Pets
<p>As the Humane Society warns, pets left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost, or killed. Plan ahead to make sure you can safely evacuate your entire household – furry members included.</p>- 5 Ways to Be an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner - EcoWatch ›
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